Bicycle



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet L E. O. P. OTTO.

BICYCLE.

Patented Dec. 13,1881.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. 0. P. OTTO.

No. 250,960. Patented Dec. 13,1881.

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u PETERS. Pimlol-mlognpfien Washington a, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDOUARD O. F. OTTO, OF PEOKHAM, COUNTY OF SURREY, ENGLAND.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 250,960, dated December 13, 1881, Application filed November 18, 1880. (No model.) Patented in England April 23, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDOUARD CARL FRIED- RICH OTTO, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Peckham, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Bicycles and other Similar Vehicles, (for which I have received Letters Patentin England, No. 1,673, dated April 23, 1880,) ofwhich the following is a specification. I

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in the construction of the driving-bands, steering-gear, and crank slide-bearings of my improved bicycle and tricycle, for

which I have already obtained Letters Patent in England and the United States ofAmerica. Such improvements are also applicable to velocipedes in general, and have for their objects, first, to render the driving bands far more durable and effective than hitherto; secondly, by an improved arrangement of steerin g-gear and crank slide -bearin gs, to materially assist the rider in maintaininghis equilibrium by affording him a firmer purchase on the steering-handles of the machine, and thus giving him perfect control over the vehicle.-

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the right-hand wheel of a bicycle, showing my improved steering-gear. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the crank slide-bearing.

The same letters of reference are used in all the figures in the designation of identical parts.

My improvements in driving-bands consist in employing endless metallic driving-bands a, manufactured from steel or other suitable elastic metal, the advantages of so doing being, first, that such bands never stretch to any perceptible degree; secondly, that when painted, electroplated, or otherwise protected they are rendered impervious to atmospheric influence; thirdly, that they require but very little slackening for steering purposes. I preferto cover the pulleys whereon such driving-bands are mounted either with india-rubber, vulcanite, leather, or other suitable material, or any suitable combination of the same, so as to afford a better gripe or purchase to the driving-bands.

My improvementsin the steering-gear are as follows As already observed, my improved metallic driving-bands require but very little slackenin g for steering purposes. This enables me to place the steering-handles bin a fixed vertical position, so that they afford a steady support to the rider. By simply turning either one of such handles the driving-band on that side of the machine is slackened and the brake applied, thus arresting or retarding the mo tion of the corresponding wheel. In addition to this improved position of the handles, the improved arrangement of steering-gear con sists in fixing a bevel-wheel, c, to the tubular stock d of each steeringhandle, which stock swivels on a stud or post firmly attached to the axle. This stud or post projects slightly above the upperend ofthe tubular stock 01, andis there provided with a nut, 2, to hold said stock (1 in proper position. Each bevel-wheel 0 gears into a beveled sector, 0, mounted to turn on the axle of the machine. To each such beveled sector 0 a steering-rod, c, is attached at its upper end, its lower end being connected to the crank slide bearing in suchmanner as to be adapted to lift the crank-shaft at one endupon turning the steering-handle in the proper direction. The lifting of the end of the crankshaft operates to slacken the belt on that side of the machine, and by the same movement of the steerin g-h andle the rider may, if necessary, apply the brake. The middle section of each steering-rod e is made tubular, and is screwthreaded interiorly at its ends to receive the screwed end sections. The upper end section is provided with an e e, through which a bolt is passed to connect it with the beveled sector 0. The lower end section, f, of the steering-rod terminates in a ring,in which is seated the sliding bearing 3 of the crank shaft. The screws at the respective ends of the steeringrod are cut reversely with relation to each other to admit of the lengthening or shortening of said steering-rod by turningit in one direction or the other.

The crank slide-bearing 3 contains one or more perforated tubes, f, Figs. 3 and 4., for the purpose of lubricating the bearing and pre venting friction. The upper part of thecrank slide-bearing is tubular, as shown at g, Figs.

3 and 4, and fits loosely on the side rods, 9, so as to allow of its sliding up and down easily when actuated by the steering rod.

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Suitable brake-rods, 4, are also attached to the beveled sectors 0, to which rods the brakes are attached, said brakes being actuated by the before-described movement of the steeringhandles to slide up and down the side rods, g, of the bicycle. Upon these side rods, and immediately above the brakes, suitable spiral springs,5, are placed, which serve to keep said brakes normally free from contact with the pulleys. The steering handles 1) are secured at the top of their tubular stocks, and are made of curvilinear form, (preferably in the form of a horseshoe, as shown,) and within each of the recesses formed thereby I place a secondary handle, I), which carries the upper end of a link, 6, the lower end of which encircles and is adapted to slide on the lower part of the handle-stock. Spiral springs 7, encircling the handle-stocks, serve to keep the links and supplementary handles I) normally in their lowermost positions.

Connected to the lower end of each link 6 is a collar, 8, which is connected by means of a rod, 9, to a lever, 1.0, mounted to turn on the axle to which the steering-gear is fitted, while the brake-blocks are connected to such levers by wires 11, and are actuated and controlled by simply raising the secondary handles 1), which are so placed as to be immediately beneath the fingers of the rider, and may thus be operated with the utmost facility.

By this improved arrangement of steeringgear the rider obtains a better purchase and control over the vehicle, as he is enabled to grasp the steering handles firmly, owing to their rigid vertical position, at the same time that by means of the secondary handles 1) he possesses immediate and entire control over the brakes without releasing his hold on the steering-handles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is--- 1. The construction and arrangement of the steering-gear, consisting of steering-handles b, secondary handles 1), bevel-gears c, beveled sectors 0, steering rods 0, screwsf, links 6, spiral springs 7, collars S, rods 9, andlevers 10.

2. The construction and arrangement of the crank slide-bearings,comprising saidbearings 3, perforated tubesf, and hollow sockets g. EDOUARD CARL FRIEDRICH OTTO.

WVitnesses:

SHIRLEY BOWDEN, W. R. LOWMAN. 

